Left atrial strain as a predictor of left ventricular filling pressures in coronary artery disease with preserved ejection fraction: a comprehensive study with left ventricular end-diastolic and pre-atrial contraction pressures

Assessing left ventricular (LV) filling pressure (LVFP) is challenging in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and preserved LV ejection fraction (LVEF). We aimed to correlate left atrial strain (LAS) with two invasive complementary parameters of LVFP and compared its accuracy to other echocardiographic data to predict high LVFP. This cross-sectional, single-center study enrolled 81 outpatients with LVEF > 50% and significant CAD from a database. Near-simultaneous echocardiography and invasive measurements of both LV end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) and LV pre-atrial contraction (pre-A) pressure were performed in each patient, based on the definition of LVEDP > 16 mmHg and LV pre-A > 12 mmHg as high LVFP. A moderate to strong correlation was observed between LAS reservoir (LASr), contractile strain, and LVEDP (r: 0.67 and 0.62, respectively; p < 0.001); the same was true for LV pre-A (r: 0.65 and 0.63, respectively; p < 0.001). LASr displayed good diagnostic performance to identify elevated LVFP, which was higher when compared to traditional parameters. Median value of LASr was higher for an isolated increase of LVEDP than for simultaneously high LV pre-A. The cutoff found to predict high LVFP was lower for LV pre-A than that one for LVEDP. In the current study, LASr did not provide an additional contribution to the 2016 diastolic function algorithm. LAS is a valuable tool for predicting LVFP in patients with CAD and preserved LVEF. The choice of LVEDP or LV pre-A as the representative marker of LVFP leads to different cutoffs to predict high pressures. The best strategy for adding this tool to a multiparametric algorithm requires further investigation.

Association Between Left Ventricle Diastolic Dysfunction and Unfavorable Prognostic Markers in Patients with Aortic Insufficiency

INTRODUCTION

The presence of symptoms, systolic dysfunction and Left Ventricle (LV) dilation are considered unfavourable prognostic markers in Aortic Valve Insufficiency (AVI). The role of diastolic dysfunction, which is considered unfavourable outcome marker in cardiac pathologies, is not well established in AVI.

AIM

To evaluate if the presence of diastolic dysfunction may be associated with unfavourable prognostic markers in AVI patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional prospective study was performed on 22 patients with moderate or severe AVI. They underwent clinical evaluation and transthoracic echocardiography. Associations between clinical, epidemiological and echocardiographic were evaluated by Student t-test for normally distributed variables or Mann-Whitney test for non-normal distribution. Comparison between proportions was performed by Chi-square test.

RESULTS

There was an association between increased LV filling pressure, assessed by E' and E/E' of Mitral Tissue Doppler, and impaired LV systolic function, respectively: R = 0.563, R2 = 0.281; p = 0.008 and R = 0.639, R2 = 0.378; p = 0.002. The LV indexed mass also was inversely associated with the LV ejection fraction (R = 0.62, R2 = 0.35 and p = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

There was an association of LV diastolic dysfunction and ventricular hypertrophy with impaired left ventricle systolic function. Increased LV filling pressure and LV indexed mass should be considered in the management of AVI patients.